Fuel feed system



June 25, 1940. w. H. WEBER FUEL FEED SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1938 NEY BYwag/)- IZJWATTOR INVENTOR wane- ,ee aux/40v Patented June 25, 1940UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUEL FEED SYSTEM Application December 29,1938, Serial No. 248,161

21 Claims.

My invention relates generally to internal combustion engines and moreparticularly to fuel feed systems therefor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a new and improved fuelfeed system for internal combustion engines and one which is efficientin operation yet inexpensive to manufacture. l Another object of myinvention is to provide a fuel feed system of the type having acontainer into which fuel is fed from a fuel tank for delivery to anengine and to provide for controlling flow of fuel from the fuel tank tothe carburetor of the engine in a new and novel manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fuel feed system of theabove mentioned character cooperatively connected with the engine in amanner such that a low subatmospheric pressure is obtained in thecontainer or vacuum tank.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved fuellifting system for lifting fuel from a fuel tank to a vacuum tank forsupply to an engine carburetor, and a system eliminating expensivemechanism for controlling the flow of fuel into the vacuum tank and flowtherefrom to the carburetor, without sacrificing efficiency of operationof the system.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for obtaining agreater vacuum in the vacuum tank than the average vacuum which isobtained in the engine intake means.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination ofparts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of whichwill be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, to be taken as a part of this.specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention, inwhich draw- Figure l is a fragmentary View in side elevation of aninternal combustion engine having my new and improved fuel feed systemassociated therewith, certain of the parts of which are in section andcertain parts of which are broken away;

Fig. 2 is a detail view shown in vertical section and taken along theline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in vertical section showing a modified form of apart of the apparatus of my invention and which may be substituted forthe construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in vertical section showing another modifiedform of a part of the apparatus of my invention and which may besubstituted for the structure shown in Fig. 2, and

v Fig. 5 is a detail view in vertical section showing a still furthermodified form of a part of the apparatus of my invention and which alsomay be substituted for the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, in which like partsin the various figures are designated by like numerals, the numeral Idesignates in general an internal combustion engine the block of whichhas the usual intake ports 2 leading into the cylinders of the engineand controlled by valves, one of which is indicated at 3 and shown inclosed position or engaging its seat 4. Enclosing the inlet ports 2there is shown a conventional type of intake manifold 5 which is boltedto the side of the engine block and to which is connected -a carburetor6. A vacuum. tank or fuel container 1 is provided and into which fuel isdrawn or lifted from a fuel tank 8 for delivery to the carburetor 6. Thefuel tank 8 has a suitable vent to atmosphere, as at 8*. Connecting thefuel tank 8 and the vacuum tank 1 there is a conduit or pipe 9 havingits lower end 9 extending into and substantially to the bottom of tank 8and its other end 9 secured in fluid-tight relation to an upstandingtubular conduit member ID within tank I. The vacuum tank 1 is connectedfrom a point adjacent the bottom thereof to a liquid receiving tank orfuel reservoir, such as a constant level chamberli of the carburetor 6,bymeans of a pipe or conduit II. The upstanding tubular member l0projects upwardly from the bottom wall of the vacuum tank I and may beintegral therewith, as shown. The lower or inlet end portion of theconduit 9 may be secured, as at H, to and extend through the top wall orcover plate of the fuel tank 8. g

The tubular member l0 preferably extends to a point adjacent the topwall of vacuum tank 1 and has at its outlet end an internal transversewall l2 through which is provided an aperture or valve port I3 thatconstitutes the inlet port to the vacuum tank 1.. A valve member I4,which is preferably in the form of a ball and loosely disposed in theupper end of the tubular inlet member ID, is adapted to seat on theupper face oftransverse wall 12 and control the port l3. A transverselyextending, valve retaining pin 15 having its opposite ends fixed in thewall of member l0 may be provided above the ball valve Hi to limitupward movement of the ball valve away from the port [3. The ball valveI4 is readily movable by suction to open the valve port vl3to permit thepassage of fuel from the tank 8 into the container or vacuum tank 1, butacts upon increase of pressure in tank 7 to close port it to preventflow of fuel back through conduit 9 from the tank 1.

In the bottom wall of the vacuum tank 7 there is provided an outletaperture which is surrounded within the vacuum tank by a verticallyextending tubular member I6 having a closed upper end in which isprovided a centrally located aperture or valve port H which constitutesthe outlet port of container 1. Disposed within the tubular member l6for controlling the outlet port ii there is an upward seating valvemember ill which, like the inlet valve member i4, is preferably aloosely disposed ball, the ball being limited in its downward movementby a transversely extending pin I9, or other suitable means, fixed tothe wall of and within tubular member iii. The upper or inlet end of theconduit ll extends into tubular member l6 and may be sealed and securedtherein, such as by solder, while the outlet or lower end of the conduitI I is, as above described, connected to the inlet of the constant levelchamber 6 of the carburetor 6 in any suitable manner.

The vacuum tank or container l is provided with another valve controlledport 2| which opens to atmosphere and is controlled by a valve 22,preferably a loosely disposed ball. In the present instance, the port 2|is located in a substantially horizontally extending wall portion 23within and dividing a tubular external housing member 24 positionedvertically on the outside wall of the tank 1. The interior of housingmember 24 above the wall portion 23 is in communication with theinterior of the tank I through an aperture 25 in the side wall of. thetank. The housing member 24 has a lower end portion 26 below the wallportion 23 and providing a housing for the ball valve 22, the housingportion 26 being open at its lower end to atmosphere. A pin 21, or othersuitable means, may be fixed in the lower end portion 26 to limitdownward movement of the ball valve 22. Projecting inwardly from thewall of container l and adjacent the aperture 25 is a lip or supportingportion 28 carrying a supporting or fulcrum pin 29. Pivoted on thefulcrum pin 29 is a lever member 30 having one end 3| projecting throughthe aperture 25 and overlying the port 2! of the wall portion 23. Withinthe container I and carried by the other end 32 of the lever member 39-is a float member 33 which acts upon predetermined rise in liquid levelwithin the container 1 to pivot and rotate the lever 39 in acounterclockwise direction, facing Fig. 1. Upon rotation of the levermember 30 by the increased liquid level within container 1, a downwardextending pin portion 34 carried by the lever end 3| moves downwardthrough the port 2! to engage the ball valve 22 to prevent the closingofv this valve until the liquid level in the container 1 has again beenreduced below the predetermined level, as will be more clearly pointedout hereinafter.

In order to efficiently control the supplying of fuel from the fuel tank8 to the carburetor 6, I connect the vacuum tank 1 to a cylinder of theengine I in a manner such that supply of fuel from the fuel tank to thecarburetor is controlled by the operation of the intake valve 3. The vacuum tank I may be connected to the engine l by duct means, or it may beconnected thereto by aconduit 40, as shown in the present instance. Theconduit 40 may have one end portion sealed and secured, such as bysolder, in a tubular boss ll formed on and surrounding an aperturethrough the top wall of vacuum tank I. The other end of the conduit 40is connected to a wall of the engine block and is in communication witha passage or bore 42 which opens through the beveled face of the valveseat 4. Thus as the valve 3 operates to alternately open and close itsport, it also alternately opens and closes the opening of passageway 42leading through the valve seat 4. By arranging the passageway 42 suchthat it opens through the beveled face or seat 4 of the valve port, asubatmospheric pressure is obtained in the vacuum tank 'i which isrelatively lower than the pressure in either the cylinder or themanifold. The mixture in passing the end of tube or conduit '62 has theefiect of an aspirator, thereby lowering the pressure in conduit 42. Inthis manner I make use of the restriction to flow alforded by theannular valve seat projecting into the passageway to increase thevelocity of the fuel mixture passing the end of conduit 42 to increasethe suction eiiect on the passageway or conduit 02. The annularpassageway of diverging form afforded between the valve face and itsseat as the valve opens and closes is of less eifective flow area thanthe flow area of the inlet port 2, and in conjunction with the flaringpassageway at the valve seat provides a Venturi eiiect increasing thevelocity of flow of the fuel mixture.

The passageway or bore 52 is angularly disposed relative to the outerside wall of the engine block and opens at its outer end into arelatively larger bore M which leads out of the side wall of the engineblock. The bore M is threaded to receive a threaded end portion of atubular connecting member 45 having its outer end threaded to receive anut 46 for connecting one end of the conduit 40 to the connecting member45. The conduit 40 may be formed with. a flared end portion adapted toreceive the outer end of the con necting member 15 which may be beveledto seat therein so that the parts may be tightly clamped together by thenut 45 to provide an air-tight connection. The volume of the space abovethe normal liquid level of the vacuum tank 1 should be kept as small aspossible, and the length of the conduit Ml should be kept as short aspossible so that a minimum of vapor or air will be extracted from thevacuum tank 1 prior to the seating of the ball valve 22 and flow ofliquid from the tank 8.

The operation of my fuel lifting and supply system so far described isas follows: When the en gine is operating, the intake valve 3 willalternately establish and close communication between the enginecylinder and the vacuum tank 1. Assuming that the liquid level in thevacuum tank l is below the predetermined level and the intake valve 3opens, engine suction will withdraw air and vapor from the vacuum tank'l and the resulting reduced pressure in tank 1 will cause the ballvalve 22 controlling the port 2| to be lifted to its seat so that afurther reduced pressure in tank l will result. The ball valve I8controlling the outlet port i! will then close and at substantially thesame time the ball valve M controlling the inlet port I3 will be liftedfrom its seat so that the vacuum created in vacuum tank 'i by enginecreated suction and transmitted through conduit All causes a quantity offuel to be drawn or lifted from the fuel tank 8 into the vacuum tank 1.When the intake valve 3 seats or closes its port, the ball valve 22 willdrop by graviii) ity and open the port 2| to admit air to the vacuumtank 7, and the ball valve [4 will also drop onto its seat and close itsport l3. Also, the ball valve l8 controlling the outlet port I! willdrop and open port l7 so that fuel in the vacuum tank will flow bygravity through the conduit III to the carburetor 6. Thus under thecontrol of the intake valve 3, fuel will be alternately .drawn'into anddischarged from the vacuum tank 1 and will be supplied to the carburetor6. If desired, the vacuum tank I may be connected to two cylinders ofthe engine by an additional conduit, and with such a dual connection thelower pressure in the tank will be established twice as often. Shouldthe liquid be drawn into the tank 1 more rapidly than it flows from thetank I so that the liquid level therein rises beyond a predeterminedpoint, the float member 33 will rock the lever member 30 which, by meansof the portion 34 thereof, will hold the ball valve 22 from seating,thereby preventing a reduction of. pressure in the container Isufiicient to cause liquid to flow from tank 8 to container 1'.

Referring now to Fig. 3, this view shows another manner of connectingthe vacuum tank 1 with a cylinder of the engine so that communicationtherebetween is controlled by operation of a fuel inlet controllingvalve 3 of the cylinder similar to valve 3 of Fig. 2. In the presentinstance the valve 3 has a stem 49 guided in a sleeve member 56 which isintegral with the engine block. The sleeve member 5!] which extendsupward into the fuel mixture inlet passageway, indicated at BI, isjoined to the wall of passageway 5| by a rib or wall portion 52 whichextends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the valve'stem. Openingthrough the outer wall of the engine block there is a bore or passageway53 which extends transverse to the valve stem and through rib 52 andsleeve member 5!] and which intersects the bore of the sleeve member andopens, as at 53 into the fuel mixture inlet passageway 5|. At its outerend the bore 53 may be formed having an enlarged portion 53* which maybe threaded for receiving one end of a tubular fitting or connectingmember 54, to the other end of which the conduit 40 may be tightlyattached by a clamping nut 55. The stem 49 of the valve 1! functions, inthis construction, as a ported piston or sleeve valve'and is providedwith an aperture 56 extending transversely therethrough which registerswith the bore 53 to establish communication between the engine cylinderand the vacuum tank I when the valve 3* opens. When the valve 3 isseated, as shown, it will be seen that the valve stemclosescommunication between the fuel inlet passageway 5i and the vacuumtank I. It will thus be seen that by the construction of Fig. 3, theengine created suction is intermittently applied to vacuum tank I bymeans of operation of an engine intake valve, thereby permitting, asabove described, the feeding of fuel from the tank I to the carburetor6. The construction shown in Fig. 3 is particularly suitable formultiple cylinder engines wherein the pistons have overlappingoperation, for the suction force of a plurality of cylinders may beutilized to lift fuel to the vacuum tank, the suction force beingcontrolled by one valve. When the valve 3 is in open position, thecylinder to which the valve controls flow will be in open communicationwith tank I through intake port 5i, passageway 53, valve aperture 56 andconduit MI. Also, the other cylinder whose piston operates inoverlapping relation with the piston of the previously mentionedcylinder will be in open communication with tank 1 through the manifold5, intake port 5|, passageway 53, valve aperture 56 and conduit 40. Itwill be seen that in the construction of Fig. 3 only one connectingconduit need be employed between the engine and the tank 1 sincecommunication between the several engine cylinders and the vacuum tankcan be controlled by one valve,'namely the slide valve 49. It will beevident from the foregoing that the conduit 40 may be branched at itsmanifold end and each branch terminate at a control valve similar to theslide valve 49. In such a case the frequency with which the subatmos--pheric pressure is applied to the tank I is in,- creased proportionallyrelative to the number of branches.

Referring now to Fig. 4, this view shows another manner of connectingthe vacuum tank I to an engine cylinder so that fuel will alternately bedrawn into the vacuum tank and de1ivered to the carburetor 6. In thewall of the engine block-there is a passageway or bore 58 which opensinto the fuel mixture inlet passageway, designated by the numeral 59, ata point above or on the cylinder side of an engine inlet valve 3 andclosely adjacent thereto. Inthis construction the valve 3 cooperateswith the passageway 59 to form an annular space or restricted mixtureflow portion. The outer end of the bore 58 opens through the outer sidewall of the engine block and may have an enlarged end portion internallythreaded for receiving one'end of a tubular shaped fitting or connectingmember 66. The outer end of the fitting 5|] may also be externallythreaded for receiving an internally threaded end of a valve housing 6|.The valve housing 6| has a longitudinal passageway or bore 62communicating with the inlet passageway 59 through the tubularconnecting member Gil. The bore 62 preferably has a-reduced portion 63at its outer end providing an inwardly facing, annular shoulder forminga seat fora valve member 64. The valve member 6A which is preferably aball is urged against its seat by a coil spring 65 disposed in bore 62.One end of the conduit 40 may be connected to the outer end of the valvehousing 6! by a clamping nut 66. On the suction stroke of the piston inthe cylinder with which the bore 62. communicates, fuel mixture willpass by the open valve 3 to the cylinder. The valve 3 will move onopening, substantially into or through the plane of the outlet of bore58 and cooperates as mentioned hereinbefore to form an annular orificepassageway wherein the velocity of the fuel mixture sup iii plied fromthe intake manifold 5 to the-cylinder has a relatively high velocity andthe pressure thereof is relatively low. It will also benoted that theannular mixture stream will be directed by the flared orifice ordiverging valve face into trolled .by the intake valve 3 due to itscontrol:

of the flow of fuel mixture to the engine cylinder. Upon closing of thevalve 3 which shuts off the fuel mixture flow, the spring 65 seats theball valve 64 thereby preventing further communication between the inletpassage 5Q and the container! so. that pressure can increase in thecontainer '1 to permit flow of fuel to the carburetor.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, a tube 10 having a threat orinternal restricted portion, preferably of converging-diverging form,such as a Venturi type tube, extends through the engine castingsimilarly to the conduit 42 of Fig. 2 and has its outlet end openingthrough the valve seat 4, as at "H. The inlet end T2 of the tube 'IEIpreferably is open to atmosphere, as shown, or may be supplied withfluid from some other relatively high pressure source. The conduitleading from the container '1 is suitably secured and sealed to and inopen communication with the throat of the Venturi tube 10. In thisconstruction the velocity and aspirator action of the fuel mixture isutilized as in the construction of Fig. 2, and in addition thereto theaction of the Venturi tube 70 will increase still further thesubatmospheric pressure on conduit 4!! and within the container 1. Dueto the admission or bleeding of air into the conduit 40 at the arr inlet12 of the Venturi tube 10, the gravity operated ball valve 22controlling admission of atmospheric air to container 1 may be omittedand the increase in pressure within the container 1 be accomplished byair flowing through the end 12 of the tube 10 and conduit 40. Theomitted gravity operated valve 22 may be replaced by a valve so arrangedrelative to the port 2| that under normal operation the valve remainsagainst its seat, but upon the liquid within the container I reachingthe predetermined level, the valve is operable to be moved by the floatmember 33 to open position. This normally closed, float member openedvalve replacing the valve 22 is in the nature of a safety valve in thatit assures that the suction on conduit 40 when the intake valve 3 openswill be substantially satisfied or sufficiently so that no addiitonalliquid fuel will be pushed by the atmospheric pressure in the supplytank 8 into the container 1 so long as the liquid remains at thepredetermined level.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have invented anew and improved means by which liquid fuel may be supplied to aninternal combustion engine, and which utilizes a minimum of parts placedin an improved cooperative arrangement. By my invention a vacuum orsubatmospheric pressure greater than that in the engine intake means maybe obtained in a container or vacuum tank so that liquid fuel will bepushed by the supply tank pressure into the container which may bepositioned considerably above the level of the supply tank. I have alsodisclosed means whereby an engine intake valve is utilized as the meansfor controlling the lowering of the container or vacuum tank pressureintermittently so that fuel can flow from the container to thecarburetor. I have also disclosed a means operable upon a predeterminedlevel of liquid in the container to prevent further liquid flow to thecontainer. I have further disclosed a construction by which the conduitmember from the vacuum tank or container may be connected to the engineto eliminate as far as possible any plugging of the conduit member dueto a deposit of carbon, as was experienced in certain of the fuellifting devices of the prior art.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application,Serial No. 61,740, filed January 31, 1936, for Fuel feed systems.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. In a fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine, an intakemeans for supplying a fuel mixture to a cylinder of the engine, a fueltank, a fuel reservoir, means for lifting fuel from said fuel tank fordelivery to said reservoir, comprising a container in communication withsaid fuel tank, conduit means connecting said intake means and saidcontainer to provide communication therebetween, said conduit meansbeing so arranged and constructed relative to said intake means thatflow through said intake means to the cylinder will cause a reduction ofpressure in said conduit means, means synchronously controlling thesupply of fuel mix ture to the engine cylinder and the pressure in saidcontainer so that fuel will flow from said fuel tank into said containerwhen the fuel mixture is being supplied to the engine, and means forsupplying fuel from said container to said reservoir.

2. In a liquid lifting device, an internal combustion engine, intakemeans for supplying a fuel mixture to said engine comprising an intakevalve, a liquid supply tank, a liquid receiving tank, conduit meansconnecting said tanks, conduit means connecting said receiving tank tosaid intake means adjacent said intake valve so that at an open positionof said valve a reduced pressure is induced into said receiving tankthrough said last-named conduit means, at least a part of said pressurereduction being produced by the high velocity of the fuel mixturepassing said valve, and conduit means leading from and for fiow ofliquid from said receiving tank.

3. In a fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine having anintake means, an intake valve controlling flow of fuel mixture to acylinder of the engine and cooperable when open with said intake meansto provide a restricted flow area, and conduit means connected to saidintake means adjacent said intake valve so that the fuel mixture passingthrough said restricted area will cause an aspirator effect on saidconduit means.

4. A fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine having a portcontrolling valve comprising a fuel supply tank, a carburetor for theengine, a container, conduit means connecting said tank, said carburetorand said container, means providing a reduced pressure, and duct meansconnecting said container to said reduced pressure means and controlledby the port controlling valve, said valve when in open positionestablishing communication between said reduced pressure means and saidcontainer to decrease the fiuid pressure therein so that fuel will bedischarged into said container from said fuel supply tank for flowthrough said conduit means to said carburetor, said valve when in closedposition closing communication between said reduced pressure means andsaid container.

5. A fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine having intakevalves comprising a fuel supply tank, means operable to provide areduced pressure, a carburetor for the engine, a container, conduitmeans connecting said tank said carburetor and said container, a conduitconnecting said container to said reduced pressure means and having aport, an intake valve of the engine controlling said port, said intakevalve when in an open position establishing communication between saidreduced pressure means and said container to produce a reduced pressurein said container so that fuel will flow from said supply tank into saidcontainer, said intake valve when in closed position closingcommunication between said container and said reduced pressure means,and valve means in the fuel conveying portion of said conduit means andcontrolling flow therethrough and controlled by said engine intakevalve.

6. A fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine having intakeand exhaust valves comprising a carburetor for the engine, a fuel supplytank disposed below the level of the carburetor, a container, conduitmeans connecting said container and said carburetor, conduit meansconnecting said container and a cylinder of the engine and'having a portopening through a valve seat of one of the engine intake valves, saidone valve when open establishing communication between the enginecylinder and said container to create in said container a pressure lowerthan the pressure in said tank so that fuel will flow from saidsupplytank to said container for flow therefrom to said carburetor, avalve controlling flow of fuel from said container to said carburetor,and a valve controlling admission of air to said container andcontrolling said fuel control valve, said one engine intake valvecontrolling the operation of said air control valve.

'7. A fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine having intakeand exhaust valves, a carburetor for the engine, a fuel supply tank, avacuum tank between said fuel tank and said carburetor, conduit meansconnecting said supply tank said vacuum tank and said carburetor, ductmeans connecting said vacuum tank and a cylinder of the engine so thatfuel will be drawn into the vacuum tank by engine created suction, oneof the valves of the engine controlling communication between saidcylinder and said vacuum tank and operable to close communicationtherebetween during exhaust of the products of combustion from thecylinder, said vacuum tank having an outlet port leading to said conduitmeans connecting said vacuum tank to said carburetor for flow of fuel tosaid carburetor, a valve controlling said outlet port and controlled byoperation of said one valve to alternately open and close said outletport, said vacuum tank having a port opening to atmosphere, and a valvemember controllingsaid port and controlled by the operation of said onevalve to alternately openand close said port to atmosphere;

8. In a fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine having acylinder and an intake valve therefor, means for lifting fuel from afuel tank for flow by gravity to the engine comprising a containerconnected to said fuel tank and into which a quantity of fuel isintermittently drawn by the intermittent production of a partial vacuumtherein, duct means for transmitting the vacuum of the engine cylinderto said container, said duct means having a port opening through theseat of the intake valve so that the opening and closing of said valvecontrols the intermittent flow of fuel to said container.

9. A fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine having an intakevalve comprising a carburetor for the engine, a fuel supply tank, avacuum tank, said conduit means connecting said vacuum tank said fueltank and said carburetor, means connecting said vacuum tank to acylinder of the engine to produce a vacuum in said vacuum tank so thatthe greater pressure in said supply tank will push fuel into said vacuumtank from said supply tank, the engine intake valve controllingcommunication between said vacuum tank and said cylinder to establishcommunication between said vacuum tank and said cylinder upon opening ofsaid intake valve and to close communication between said vacuum tankand said cylinder upon seating of said intake valve, said vacuum tankhaving a port open to atmos-' phere, and a valve controlling said portand controlled by operation of said intake valve to alternately open andclose said port to control flow of fuel to said carburetor.

10. A fuel feed system for aninternal combustion engine having an intakevalve comprising a carburetor for theengine, a fuel tank, a fuel sup plyline connecting said fuel tank and said car buretor, a vacuumtank insaid supply line between said fuel tank and said carburetor, said vacuumtank having an inlet port, an outlet port and a port opening toatmosphere, a conduit connecting said vacuum tank to a cylinder of theengine and communicating with said cylinder through an opening in theseat of the intake valve so that when the intake valve is seatedcommunication between said cylinder and said vacuum tank is closed, avalve controlling said inlet port and controlled by the operation of theintake valve to alternately open and close saidinlet port, a valvecontrolling said outlet port and controlled by the operation of theintake valve to alternately open and close said outlet port, and a valvecontrolling said port opening to atmosphere and controlled by theoperation of the intake valve to alternately open and close said portopening to atmosphere.

11. In a liquid lifting apparatus, an inlet conduit member for supplyinga cylinder and having a valve port, a valve member controlling said portand open during decreased cylinder pressure, a container for liquidhaving an inlet and an outlet, conduit means communicatively connectingsaid conduit member and said container, a valve member controlling flowthrough said conduit means, means mechanically connecting said valvemembers together for simultaneous opening movement, and valve meanscontrolling said inlet and said outlet and operable to close said outletand to open said inlet upon opening movement of said valve members sothat the decreased cylinder pressure will establish a decreased pressurein said container.

12. In a liquid lifting apparatus, an internal combustion engine, intakemeans to said engine, an intake valve controlling flow through saidintake means and having a stern portion, a sleeve holding and guidingsaid stem portion, a passageway from said intake means through saidstern portion and said holding sleeve, said passageway being open forflow of fluid at one position of said intake valve, a liquid supplytankhaving therein a higher pressure than that in said intake means, aliquid container at a level higher than that of the bottom of saidsupply tank, conduit means connecting said tank to said container, andconduit means connecting said passageway and said container so that thelesser pressure in said intake means will be communicated to saidcontainer thereby permitting liqpressure, a liquid container at a levelhigher 1 than that of the bottom of said supply tank, conduit meansconnecting said tank to said container, conduit means connecting saidpassageway and said container so that the subatmospheric pressure insaid intake means will be communicated to said container so that liquidcan flow from said tank to said container, and means controlled by saidvalve and controlling flow of liquid from said container.

14. In a fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine havingintake means, an intake valve having an open and a closed position, afuel supply tank open to atmospheric pressure, a container, a carburetorfor supplying fuel mixture to said intake means, conduit meansconnecting said tank, said container and said carburetor for flow ofliquid fuel, conduit means connecting said container to said intakemeans adjacent the top portion of said valve so that when said intakevalve is in said open position said last-named conduit means opens intosaid intake means at the point of greatest velocity of fuel mixture flowto establish a subatmospheric pressure in said container so that liquidfuel in said tank will flow to said container, and means operable uponmovement of said valve to said closed position to allow gravity flow ofliquid fuel from, said container to said carburetor.

15. In a fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine, an intakemeans for supplying a fuel mixture to a cylinder of the engine, acarburetor discharging into said intake means, a fuel tank, means forlifting fuel from said fuel tank for delivery to said carburetorcomprising a container in communication with said fuel tank, duct meanshaving one end connected to said intake'means and its other endconnected to said container to provide communication therebetween, saidone end being so positioned relative to flow through said intake meansthat the flow through said intake means will induce a reduction ofpressure in said one end, valve means controlling said duct means andsaid intake means so that subatmospheric pressure produced by enginecreated suction is transmitted to said container when said intake meansis supplying fuel mixture to the cylinder so that fuel will flow fromsaid fuel tank into said container, said container having an opening foradmitting pressure thereinto, and valve means cooperating with andseparate from and movable subsequent to movement of said first-namedvalve means and operable to permit flow through said opening when saidfirst-named valve means is in closed position so that fuel can flow fromsaid container to said carburetor.

16. A liquid fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprisingintake means for connection to an engine cylinder, an intake valve, amain liquid fuel tank open to atmosphere, an intermediate fuelcontainer, a carburetor supplying a fuel-air mixture to said intakemeans, conduit means connecting said fuel tank at a point adjacent thebottom thereof to said fuel container adjacent the top thereof, valvemeans in the container end of and controlling said conduit means toallow flow of liquid fuel in a direction solely from said tank to saidcontainer, conduit means connecting said container at a point adjacentthe bottom thereof to said carburetor, valve means in said second-namedconduit means and within said container and operable to allow flow offuel in a direction solely from said container to said carburetor,conduit means having one end thereof connected to said container at apoint adjacent the top thereof and having its other end connected tosaid intake means, said other end of said last-named conduit being sopositioned relative to the flow through said intake means that thevelocity of flow will induce a reduction. in pressure in said last-namedconduit other end, valve means controlling said third-named conduitmeans and said intake means so that subatmospheric pressure in saidintake means is transmitted to said container so that liquid fuel canflow from said tank through said first-named conduit means to saidcontainer at one position of said controlling valve means, meanscontrolled by said controlling valve means so that at another positionof said controlling valve means a pressure increase is established insaid container so that liquid fuel can flow through said second-namedconduit means to said carburetor.

17. In a fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine, an intakemeans for supplying fuel mixture to a cylinder of the engine and havinga port, an intake valve controlling said intake means, a fuel tank,means for lifting fuel from said tank for delivery to the enginecornprising a container in communication with said tank, said intakevalve controlling said port, duct means connecting said container tosaid intake means adjacent said intake valve to provide communicationtherebetween, said intake valve at one position acting to establish flowthrough said duct means so that a vacuum due to flow of fuel mixture tothe engine will be produced in said container, the higher fluid pressurein the fuel tank forcing fuel into said container upon the attainment ofsaid vacuum in said container, and means operable to relieve the vacuumin said container at another position of said intake valve.

18. A liquid lifting apparatus for use with an internal combustionengine comprising intake means leading to an engine cylinder, intakevalve means in and controlling flow of fluid through said means, astorage tank open to atmosphere, 2. liquid container, conduit meansextending from a point Within and adjacent the bottom of said tank to apoint within and adjacent the top of said container, conduit meansconnecting said container at a point substantially at the top thereof toa portion of the engine intake means at a point of restricted fuelmixture fiovv and adjacent said intake valve means so that an aspiratoreffect is produced on said second-named conduit means, valve means inand controlling said second-named conduit means so that at one positionof the engine piston the subatmospheric pressure in said intake meansmay be communicated to said container, valve means in said first-namedconduit means and controlled by said second-named valve means to opposeflow of fluid from the container, an outlet valve means from saidcontainer, valve means in said outlet means and controlled by saidsecond-named valve means to oppose flow of fluid into said container,and means independent of said second-named valve means and operable toestablish an increase of pressure in said container upon closure of saidsecond-named conduit valve means.

19. A liquid fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprisingintake means for connection to an engine cylinder, an intake valve, amain liquid fuel tank open to atmosphere, an intermediate fuelcontainer, a carburetor for supplying a fuel-air mixture to the intakemeans, conduit means connecting said fuel tank at a point adjacent thebottom thereof to said fuel container adjacent the top thereof, valvemeans in the container end of and controlling said conduit means toallow flow of liquid fuel in a direction solely from said tank to saidcontainer, conduit means connecting said container at a point adjacentthe bottom thereof to said carburetor, valve means in said second-namedconduit means and within said container and operable to allow flow offuel in a direction solely from said container to said carburetor,conduit means connecting said container at a point adjacent the topthereof to said intake means at a point of restricted fuel mixture flowand adjacent said intake valve means so that an aspirator efiect isproduced on said second-named conduit means, controlling valve means insaid third-named conduit means and operable at one position of saidintake valve to transmit the subatmospheric pressure in said intakemeans to said container so that liquid fuel can flow from said tankthrough said first-named conduit means to said container, said containerhaving an air inlet opening to atmosphere, valve means mechanicallyindependent of and controlled by said controlling valve means andcontrolling said opening so that at another position of said controllingvalve means a pres.- sure increase is established in said container,said pressure increase in said container permitting liquid fuel to flowthrough said second-ham conduit meansto said carburetor.

20. In a liquid lifting apparatus for use with an internal combustionengine, intake means including a valve seat, an intake valve member insaid means cooperable with said valve seat, a converging-divergingmember having its outlet end opening through said seat so that flow offluid therethrough is controlled by said valve member, said second namedmember having its other or inlet end open to a source of fluid supply, aliquid supply tank, a liquid containing tank, a liquid re-,

ceiving tank, conduit means connecting said tanks for flow of liquidfrom said supply tank through said containing tank to said receivingtank, and a conduit member connecting said containing tank to saidsecond-named member adjacent the throat thereof so that When the fluidis passing through said second-named member to said intake means a lowerpressure is maintained in said containing tank than in said: supply tankso that liquid will flow from said supply to said containing tank.

21. In a liquid lifting apparatus for use with aninternal combustionengine, intake means including a valve seat, an intake valve member insaid means cooperable with said valve seat, a converging-divergingmember having its outet end opening through said seat so that flow offluid therethrough is controlled by said valve member, said second-namedmember having its other or inlet end open to a source of fluid supply, aliquid supply tank, a liquid containing tank, a liquid receiving tank,conduit means connecting said tanks for flow of liquid from said supplytank through said containing tank to said receiving tank, a conduitmember connecting said containing tank to said second-named memberadjacent the throat thereof so that when the fluid is passtank to saidcontaining tank.

WALTER H. WEBER,

